Indexing mechanism



INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.:

I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. J. RUSHER INDEXING MECHANISM Jan. 12, 1954 FiledMay 15, 1951 MJC@ Jam 12., 1954 J. J. RusHER 2,665,589

INDEXING MECHANISM 4Filed May 15, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENToR. Ja/7nd. Rus/7er Qua/@9M HTTORNEYS Ja. 12, 1954 J. J. RusHER INDEXINGMECHANISM Illu-'III Filed May 15, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IINJ/ AIPRESERVOIR INVENToR. cfa/1n Jz/.Scr BY av-mcv-ma/ HTTURNEYS Patented Jan.12, 1954 INDEXING MECHANISM John J. Rusher, Royal Oak, Mich., assignorIsoV Champion Spark Plug Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation ofDelaware Application May 15, 1951, Serial No. 226,370

8 Claims. l

This invention relates to means for imparting predetermined indexingmovements to a rotatable object, and has for its primary object theprovision of a simple, improved and eicient mechanism of this character.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means employing aplurality of reciprocably movable rack members and coacting pinions, oneof which members is successively operated to engage and release itspinion by reciprocatory movements of the other, and when engaged andaxially moved is caused to impart a predetermined indexing movement toits pinion.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description, and from the accompanying drawingsillustrating one embodiment of the invention, in which- Fig.- 1 is afragmentary side elevation of a device embodying the invention, withparts broken away, and with the indexing rack-bar in perative relationto its pinion; Fig. 2 is a reduced cross-section on the line 2 2 in Fig.1, with parts in full; Fig. 3 is a diagram of the mechanism withassociated fluid pressure control means, and Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig. 1 with an associated locking means for the indexing table.

Referring to the drawings, I designates a movable indexing member, inthe present instance, of round table form that is rotatably movableabout a vertical axis. This table has a hub sleeve 2 mounted for freerotation, in the present instance, on a standard 3 mounted on or carriedby any suitable support (not shown). A pinion 4 is fixedly carried bythe sleeve 2 concentric therewith and beneath the table I, and its teethare preferably arcuate in form transverse to the pinion.

An indexing rack-bar 5 is mounted at one side of the axis of the pinion4 transverse thereto and spaced radially from the pinion periphery. Asleeve 6 is mounted for rotary movements on the bar 5 and is heldagainst axial movements thereon, so that the sleeve is caused to haveaxial reciprocatory movements with the bar. The sleeve at one side ofits axis is provided with a longitudinal series of segmental teeth 1adapted to mesh with the teeth of the pinion 4 and to move into and outof engagement therewith by rotary movements of the sleeve on the bar 5.The teeth 1 extend over approximately a 90 area of the sleeve and at oneside of such area the sleeve is provided with a blank or neutral space 8throughout its length which, when moved into register with the-pinionl4, vcauses disengagei 55 ment of the rack teeth 'l and pinion 4, so thataxial movement of the sleeve will not impart rotation to the pinion.

The rack-bar 5, in its present embodiment, at

one end carries a plunger 9 operating in a cyl- The circumferentiallength of this tooth set is va cylinder 22. vopposite ends of the vteethof the pinion 4 greater than and opposes both the tooth set 7 and thespace 8. The pinion teeth I6 are in permanent mesh with the teeth of arack-bar I'I which is mounted, in the present instance, in a guide I8for reciprocatory movements transverse to the rack sleeve axis andpreferably parallel to the axis of the standard 3. The rack-bar Il has astem I9 projecting from its lower end through a guide 20 and carrying aplunger 2| in Admission of fluid pressure to cylinder is through lines23 and 24. The cylinder 22, in the present instance, is carried by aframe part 25 and is axially adjustable thereon by the turning of ascrew 26.

In the operation of the mechanism, the rackbar Il at the beginning of anindexing cycle is in lowered position, and the rack-bar teeth I on thesleeve 6 are in mesh with the pinion 4 that is connected to and turnedwith the indexing table. This relation of the parts is showndiagrammatically in Fig. 3. A cycle is started by admitting pressure tothe lower end of the cylinder 22 to effect a raising of the rack-bar Iland a consequent turning of the sleeve 6 to place the neutral space 8thereof into register with the and at the same time to 'I laterally outof engagement with such pinion. When this operation has been eiTected,pressure is admitted to the right hand cylinder I2 to force the rack-bar5 and its sleeve 6 to the left, with the teeth of the rackbar I7 slidinglengthwise of the teeth I6 on the sleeve. This having been done, fluidpressure is admitted to the cylinder 22 through the line 23 whicheffects a lowering of the rack-bar I 'I and a consequent turning voi"the sleeve 6 to place its teeth 1 into mesh with those of the pinion 4.

move the set of teeth One manner of automatic control for the tworack-bars and is shown diagrammatioally in Fig. 3. In this gure a pump3D operates to force fluid from a reservoir :3:| and back .to it througha pressure line 32 and valso A from Asaid line through a branch line 33back to the reservoir. A valve 34 in the line 3 2 Eis operable tocontrol the directing of pressure therefrom rst through the line 24 toraise the rack-bar i1 and to bleed the opposite end of the cylinder toVthe reservoir through ztheline 3, and then, .at .a predetermined .pointin :an indexing -cycle, lto direct fluid pressure through 1the line 2'3fto :the yupper end of v.the cylinder :to lower :said-rack- .bar and at.the sometime permitting lreturn ,of pressure :to the reservoir 4fromthe opposite 4end .of @he Lcylinder through the line 14. A `second valve35 is disposed .in the branch `line .33 vand is operable to control thealternate admission -of Afluid Apressure to the cylinders i9 Yand |2 .atVinedeterniined points ,in a ,cycle lthrough the re.- spective lines |.3and J4. whereby .the rack-bar -5 'is Erst moved to :the left whenthesleeve is in :neutral :position and. .thenat a -predetermined pointacycle-is movedtotthe right .toeffect :thoindoxing action. The valves:3.1i and;:35 .are each da typehavingrockablecoreswhich, when:alternately rocked, connect oneforzthe other of the f cylinder endswith the .respective .pressure vlines '32 and 3.3,..and at the same:time connect the opposite ends of the `cylinders with fthe reservoir 3lf or v-lvleeoli-ne Ihe-valve 341,is normally in sposition tocon- Aneetthe pressure ,side `of `:the line 32 with the line -23 and toconnecttheiline 24 wthithe res.- `ervoir side of the iin e g3, 2. Thiscauses z-the `rack.- ;bar to normally stand its lowered zposition, wassho-Wn. .-Liikewlsethevalve i5 isilormallyin .position to connectthe:p1es s urefside of theline `33 V.with ithe kcylinder I0 and fthereservoir 4.side thereof vlith the .cylinder .12, thus tendine to holdthe rack-bar 5 to the right end of its stroke, .as shown. During -eahcycle, a cam shaft 411 has one ,complete revolution imparted thereto bya mot-.0124 i .-andthisshaithasoam projections :42 and 43 LextendingQrcumferentially :thereof and adapted `to respectively coact fvv-ithfthe valves 34 and 3 5 duringpredeterminedportions of -asingle rotationof the -shaftgtomovethem to'positions in which the cylinder lines .Mendi4 will be connected -with 'the pressure sideof theline I3 2, whilethe`lines 23 and 3 :willthen be connected with the reservoir. jltgisthusapparent .that the rack-bar e l1 :is .raised .tofrook illegaalssleeve ..6 :to neutral 5 relation yto the :pinion 4 and to retain vit.in such position while vthe rack-bar .5 bengimovedvto `the left.Also,ftlriat While I`therack-bar `5 ,is infsuchleft positienfthe l2ivillrelease the va-lva,permittinggtheggraok- .1.7 t0 be ,returnedtoits; normal lowered Ipositiomaudzthatafter this the oem 4.3releasesfthe .valve 3.5 .permitting -t-t0-retur1n t0 nor-.molrpofsition; and to-,oause thepresurefn; line; t3 :to benome active andreturn Athe fr oli-.har to right .to effect, aninclexineaotion. 1

In Fig. 4 is shown a means that is automatically operable to lock thetable l in indexing position during each rest period thereof, thusinsuring that the table has turned a predetermined extent at eachindexing operation, or effecting a stopping of the machine if suchextent of movement is not obtained. This means is also operable to lockthe table againstmovement during a rest period. To accomplish 1this,-the plunger 2| in the cylinder 22 has its stem or rod, here marked 50,shortened and provided without the ,upper end of the cylinder with across-bar 5|, to one end of which is attached the stem |911 of vthetrack-bar I while to the other end thereof iis attached a ,loch-pin 52.The rack-bar stem and lock-'pin are vdisposed with their longitudinaltaxes parallel 1to that of the plunger stem or rod 5|). The table has asocket $3 for each station or .work-holding part thereof disposedadjacent thereto and, in the present instance, near the labe:1i m, andthe lock-pin 5 2, when raised after an indexing movement, is intended toenter a registering socket and lock the vtable `against movement duringarest period and until released by a lowering of the lpin. AIf .the table:has not received a proper ,indexing movement vthe lockpin when raisedwill not enter asocket vand op- '.elaloilof the machine Will be stopped.

I Wish it understood that lmy invention is not .limited to any specificconstruction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable ofnumerousmodications and changes without departing iromthespirit of theclaims.

Having described my invention, what --I claim Vas new, and Adesire tosecure by United States .Letters Patent is:

f1,- Inan.indesiaemechanism en indexing pinion, a longitudinallyreciprooable rack-bar, ,a member carried'bysaid bar for movementtherewith and-for transverse shifting movements re1- ,ative thereto,said member having one set :of

.ita-ok teeth for meshing engagement with .said ,-pinionandasecond .setof rack teeth transverse to theiirst set, a second rack-bar in mesh withsaid second set -ofrack-har teeth, Y and means o perable -to reciprocatesaid-second rack-bar in predeterminedtimedroletion tothe strokes of saidfirst rack-bar to move said rst teeth out of meshing' register with saidpinion Whn the rlirsi'f Aradii-barisin one position oaf-its movement andinto register with the pinion when said first rackparis in anotherposition of its movement. 2. Ain an indexing Amecha-nism, an indexingpinlion, a -reeiprocably lrnovahle `rank-bar, a sleeve mounted on therack-har orreciprocatory movementsl therewith andi or rotary movementsthereon, said sleeve having a v set of teeth meshing with said pinion toimpart predetermined indexing movements thereto When-the .bar is movedin one directionand being movable to disengage the pinion by vrotarymovement of ythe sleeve,

means connected to said sleeve and operable to .rotate-the sleeve toalternately engage and disengage saidsleeveteeth and pinion, meansoperable toimpart reciprocatory movements tofsaid rackbar, andmeansroperable vat predetermined positions of reciprocatory movement ofsaid rackhar -to alternately move the sleeve to move its -teeth intoandoutof registering relation to the pinion,

3. In an indexingmechanism, an indexing pin- .ion,I a-ijack-barlongitudinally movable transverse tothe inionaxis, a member carried bysaid rackbarfor movements therewith and for-, transverseShiitinefmovemets rslativathrto. said-.member having a set of rack teethadapted to mesh with the pinion when the member is in one position ofits transverse movement and to disengage the pinion when the member isin another position of such movement, a second set of teeth on saidmember transverse to said rst set, a second rackbar in engagement withsaid second set of teeth and reciprooably movable to rotate the member'on its rack-bar to alternately engage and release the rst set of teethWith respect to the pinion, and fluid pressure means operable to impartpredetermined reciprocatory movements to said rst rack-bar andpredetermined movements to said second rack-bar whereby said member isshifted into driving engagement with the pinion when in one position ofmovement of the iirst rackbar and is released therefrom when in anotherposition of such movement.

4. In an indexing mechanism, an indexing pin-- ion, a reciprocablymovable rack-bar having a set of rack teeth rotatably shiftabletransverse to the bar movement into and out of driving mesh with (thepinion, means operable to impart stroke movement to said rack-bar firstin one direction and then another, means to rotate said rack teeth intoand out of meshing relation to the pinion alternately with said strokes,and means operable with said second means to lock said pinion againstmovement during predetermined movements of said last-mentioned means.

5. In an indexing mechanism, an indexing pinion, a longitudinallyreoiprocable rack-bar, a member carried by said bar for movementtherewith and for rotary transverse shifting movements relative thereto,said member having one set of rack teeth for meshing engagement withsaid pinion and a second set of rack teeth transverse to the iirst set,a second rack-bar in mesh with said second set'of rack teeth, meansoperable to reciprocate said second rack-bar in predetermined timedrelation to the strokes of said rst rack-bar to move said rst teeth outof meshing register with said pinion when the iirst rack-bar is in oneposition of its movement and into register with the pinion when saidiirst rackbar is in another position of its movement, and means operablewith said second rack-bar to lock said pinion against movement duringpredetermined movements of said last-mentioned means.

5. In an indexing mechanism, a rotatable iny dexing table, an indexingpinion connected to said table for imparting rotation from one to theother, a longitudinally reciprocable rack-bar, a member carried by saidbar for movement therewith and for transverse shifting movementsrelative thereto, said member having one set of rack teeth for meshingengagement with said pinion and a second set of rack teeth transverse tothe first set, a second rack-bar in engagement With said second set ofrack teeth, means operable to reciprocate said second rack-bar inpredetermined timed relation to the strokes of said rst rack-bar to movesaid rst teeth out of meshing register with said pinion when the firstrack-bar is in one position of its movement and into register with thepinion when said first rack-bar is in another position of its movement,said table having a series of sockets therein corresponding in number toindexing positions thereof and a lock-pin movable with said secondrack-bar and operable to interengage a registering socket on the tableto lock the table against movement during a rest period thereof.

7. In an indexing mechanism, an indexing pinion, a longitudinallyreciprocatory and transversely rotatable rack member having a set ofrack teeth thereon shiftable transversely into and out oi meshingregister with said pinion, means mounting the rack member for saidmovements, means operable to alternately move said rack memberlongitudinally iirst in one direction and then in an opposite directiona predetermined extent, means operable to rotate said rack member out ofengaging register with the pinion at the beginning of one stroke andinto engaging register therewith at the beginning of the next stroke,and means operable in timed relation to said last means to preventturning of said pinion when disengaged from the rack member.

8. In an indexing mechanism, an indexing pinion, an indexing membermovable by said pinion, a reciprocably movable rack bar, a rack toothmember carried by said bar for movement therewith and for rotarytransverse shifting movements relative thereto into and out of registerwith the pinion, means operable to impart stroke movements to said rackbar rst in one direction and then another, means to rotate said toothmember out of pinion meshing position at one end of the rack'bar strokeand into meshing position at the other end of the stroke, and meansoperable in synchronized relation to said last means to lock saidindexing member against movement when the tooth member is out of meshwith the pinion.

JOHTN J. RUSHER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,291,382 Duglin July 28, 1942 2,334,684 Zappia Nov. 16, 19432,359,420 Herzog Oct. 3, 1944 2,494,706 Happel Jan. 17, 1950

